SAO PAULO: Lionel Messi and Luiz Suárez, shut associates and former teammates at Barcelona, will renew their on-the-field rivalry on Thursday in World Cup qualifying.
Messi, who seems to have recovered from a muscle harm in his leg, led Argentina to its third World Cup title final 12 months and has his crew in first place within the South American qualifying group for the 2026 event. The 36-year-old Suárez has simply returned to Uruguay’s nationwide crew as he nears the top of a high-scoring season within the Brazilian league.
The Argentines will tackle two-time World Cup champion Uruguay at La Bombonera Stadium in Buenos Aires.
Also Thursday, Brazil will journey to face Colombia in Barranquilla because it tries to get well from a house draw with Venezuela and a loss at Uruguay in its earlier two qualifying matches. Brazil coach Fernando Diniz, who just lately received the Copa Libertadores with Fluminense, might use teenager Endrick after calling him up for the primary time.
Argentina leads the 10-team South American qualifying group with 12 factors from 4 matches. Uruguay, Brazil and Venezuela have seven factors every and are separated by objective distinction. Colombia has six factors, whereas Ecuador, Paraguay and Chile have 4 every. Peru has one level and Bolivia has zero.
The subsequent World Cup within the United States, Mexico and Canada will embody 48 groups, which means direct entry for the highest six groups in South America. The seventh-place crew will contest an intercontinental playoff for a berth.
Messi will seemingly be enjoying his final two matches of the calendar 12 months towards Uruguay after which Brazil subsequent week on the Maracana Stadium. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner completed his season with Inter Miami on Oct. 21.
Suárez, a teammate of Messi at Barcelona from 2014-20, will return to Uruguay’s nationwide crew for the primary time beneath coach Marcelo Bielsa. The veteran striker earned his place regardless of knee ache, which he doesn’t disguise throughout each match for Brazilian membership Gremio.
Both Argentina and Uruguay are anticipated to qualify for the subsequent World Cup, however Messi and Suarez should not assured to be with their nationwide groups in 2026.
Argentina left again Nicolás Tagliafico, nonetheless, is hoping Messi will keep within the combine if the crew defends its Copa America title subsequent 12 months within the United States.
“If we win, I think he might extend it a little more. If we didn’t win the World Cup in Qatar, he would leave. But he did it and wants to enjoy it,” Tagliafico advised newspaper La Nacion. “If we win Copa America, I am certain that will be an incentive for Leo to continue.”
Endrick, who is ready to affix Real Madrid in January, is anticipated to get some enjoying time at Colombia.
The 17-year-old ahead is more likely to be a part of Vinicius Júnior and Rodrygo — each already enjoying for Madrid — up entrance.
Casemiro and Neymar, two of Brazil’s key gamers in recent times, are out with accidents.
Brazil has had a troublesome time successful in Colombia in latest World Cup qualifying campaigns, and going through Argentina within the subsequent match on Tuesday might make it tougher.
“We know that Brazil versus Argentina is a different match because of it all,” Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimarães stated Tuesday on the crew’s coaching floor in Teresopolis. “We have a big focus on Colombia, it is a tough and physical match. We are giving due attention to Colombia and then we will give it to Argentina.”
Colombia will subject a recovered Luis Díaz, who on Tuesday was reunited together with his father. Luis Manuel Díaz Jiménez was kidnapped by a guerrilla group in late October. He was launched final week.
Also Thursday, Bolivia will face Peru, Venezuela will host Ecuador, and Chile will tackle Paraguay.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
